[jrushing]

Sport utility vehicle deaths went up roughly 10 percent over 2002. But SUV sales rose more than 10 percent last year. Despite the increase in the annual death count, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled remained constant at 1.5 deaths because more people were on the road.

Car sales went down, Suv sales went up, Suv deaths went up less % than sales, fatality rate remained constant.
Why do they seem to blame (Consumer and safety groups have long targeted SUVs as unsafe) Suv's?

[Ron in Acreage]

They claim a 13yr high in one line and then say it remained constant in the next. Deaths per drivers per miles has remained unchanged.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Why do they seem to blame (Consumer and safety groups have long targeted SUVs as unsafe) Suv's?

Really... Bush needs to apologize and take responsibility for this.

[Rightone]

How can this possibly be? We are locking people up like crazy for the .08 MADD drunken driving rules, etc. Surely deaths on the road should be WAY down now that we have basically outlawed any drinking prior to driving?

[Viet Vet in Augusta GA]

Read the 4th paragraph. The whole (non)story is right there! What counts is fatalities rate per miles traveled, NOT gross fatalities. Sheeeesh! Reuters!

[Waco]

Compared to rates in other countries, feel free t sit back and have a beer to celebrate.

[FReepaholic]

>>...The number of U.S. traffic deaths rose nearly 1 percent in 2003 and reached a 13-year high at 43,220...<<

We've become desensitized to traffic deaths. Imagine if 43,000 Americans were killed by terrorists last year.

Imagine our outrage if 43,000 soldiers were killed in Iraq last year.

How many tens of thousands more people were permanently disabled and had thier lives ruined forever?

Why can't we spend 87 billion on making cars and roads safer??

[billbears]

Runge said those figures underscored the need for states to adopt standard safety-belt enforcement laws

Perhaps Runge forgot about every North Carolinian's favorite Senator Dole (R) who gave us seat belt laws, airbags, maintaining federal speed limits of 55 mph, and yes even third brake lights as Secretary of Transportation. Hey maybe Runge has a fourth cousin twice removed in Winston Salem. We could get him to run for Senate in this state as well. Can you imagine that 'conservative' powerhouse?!?

Hey it's not too late y'all!!! Let's start the Jeffrey Runge for Senate campaign right here in NC!!

[anncoulteriscool]

I cant say I'm surprised. My 2 cents worth has been alot of people drive SUV's in the same matter that they drive a sportscar and sorry folks many SUV's are just not designed for that (especially if you putting your make-up on while yapping on a cellphone). I agree that people have a right to buy and drive whatever vehicle they want I just wish SUV drivers would stop driving like a bunch of major league clymers (if ya know what i mean LOL!)...OK...Where was my flame protection suit?

[TheLion]

People drive too damn fast, don't pay attention and yap on cell phones. Using a cell phone while driving is like driving drunk.

Until they are involved in an accident, they will continue to drive like idiots.....unfortunately, they will probably die and take others with them.